I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON A HIGHWAY (THOUGH SLOWLY, AS THERE WAS TRAFFIC), WHEN I NOTICED SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I PULLED OVER, GOT OUT OF THE CAR, AND WENT TO OPEN THE HOOD TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. AS I WENT TO OPEN IT, I SAW FLAMES, SO I LEFT IT DOWN, GRABBED SOME BELONGINGS, GOT FAR AWAY, AND CALLED 911. WITHIN SECONDS, THE FLAMES ENGULFED THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR. MY CAR WAS WELL-MAINTAINED WITH REGULAR SERVICE. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD INDICATING THAT ANYTHING WAS AMISS. I DID NOT HEAR ANY UNUSUAL SOUNDS PRECEDING THE FLAMES, AND THE CAR HAD BEEN HANDLING THE SAME AS IT ALWAYS DID.